H.P. Lovecraft Poem Lines Up Perfectly with Billy Joel’s ‘Piano Man’

A keen-eyed Twitter user, @OurWorldcomic, recently noticed that early 20th century master of horror H.P. Lovecraft’s dark poem “Nemesis” has the same meter as Sag Harbor music icon Billy Joel’s “Piano Man.” Even cooler, musician Julian Velard has since recorded an amazing version of the song using Lovecraft’s words (see video above).

Check out the first verse of “Nemesis” next to that of “Piano Man.” See?

It’s nine o’clock on a Saturday / Thro’ the ghoul-guarded gateways of slumber,
The regular crowd shuffles in / Past the wan-moon’d abysses of night,
There’s an old man sitting next to me / I have liv’d o’er my lives without number,
Makin’ love to his tonic and gin / I have sounded all things with my sight;

Lovecraft (1890–1937) was an unknown author during his life, but he posthumously rose to fame and prominence as one of the most influential writers of his genre. His Cthulhu mythos are now the stuff of legend, beloved by millions. See the full words to “Nemesis” here.